And Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’

Matthew 19:14

Heavenly Father,

On this Mother’s Day,

I am counting my blessings

for how you have worked through my children 

to humble me, to shape me, to redeem me. 

Whether we have children or not, 

may we recognize their value, 

not in the child-centric way our culture does, 

but in the Jesus-centric way the Bible demonstrates. 

The disciples tried to shoo the children away 

when parents brought them to Jesus, 

but Jesus corrected them, 

saying that the “kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). 

Why? Why does the kingdom of God belong to people like children? 

Because children in healthy families 

fully understand their dependence on their parents to supply all their needs. 

Healthy children don’t think it’s all up to them to make things happen; 

they don’t think they’re the ones in control of their own lives (except for three-year-olds);

and they don’t think they’re stronger than they are. 

Healthy children turn to their parents for help, comfort, hope;

Healthy children do what their parents tell them to do (most of the time), 

believing their parents have their good in mind.

And even though most children don’t act that way, 

we are your children, 

the children of the only perfect parent.

May we come to you as such children would. 

In Jesus’ calling name. Amen.